Duke of Edinburgh Winter Expedition in Algonquin: Get a Head Start This December
Looking for a Duke of Edinburgh winter expedition for your Adventurous Journey? Our winter expeditions start at our off-grid Log Cabin at the northwest edge of Algonquin Park. All equipment, meals and instruction are included, along with a DOE assessor, and no winter experience is needed. So join our scheduled December expedition, or book a private trip for your own group.
A winter Adventurous Journey is very different from a summer one, and that is what makes it memorable. For example, students learn to travel and camp in the snow, plan their own route, and work as a team in snowy conditions. They also take turns leading, finish with a real sense of accomplishment, and have a lot of fun along the way.
December DOE Winter Expedition: Silver, Dec 19–23
First, our scheduled Duke of Edinburgh Silver expedition runs Saturday, December 19 to Wednesday, December 23, 2026, so students are home in time for Christmas. As a result, completing the Adventurous Journey in early winter gives students a head start on the rest of their Award.
- 5 days: 2 practice days, then 3 qualifying days
- $1,389 + HST per student, all included
- Groups of 4 to 8 students
- No driving needed: the Ontario Northland bus leaves Yorkdale Shopping Centre Friday, December 18 at 9:15 am and returns there Wednesday, December 23 at 9:30 pm. We meet the bus, serve dinner and host students overnight at the cabin, so the expedition starts first thing Saturday. Ontario Northland bus $145 + HST return, booked by you directly with Ontario Northland (we’ll tell you which stop when you book). Our pickup, Friday dinner, overnight and drop-off: $150 + HST
Bring a friend and save $150. Your student can sign up with a friend for the December expedition, and you both save $150.
Private DOE Winter Expeditions
Have your own group? In that case, private Bronze, Silver and Gold expeditions run any time this winter, on dates that suit you, for groups of 4 to 8. Are you a school with a bigger group? Please contact our office at 416-486-3605 and ask about our DOE Adventurous Journeys, where we operate several groups simultaneously.
A Chance to Unplug. An Opportunity to Reconnect.
Powered by solar energy and immersed in Algonquin’s wilderness, our off-the-grid setting brings sustainability to life. Students step away from screens and everyday distractions to connect with nature, strengthen relationships, build resilience, and learn through meaningful outdoor experiences
Peace of Mind for Educators
While students enjoy a genuine opportunity to unplug, teachers and schools can rely on satellite phones for essential communication and added peace of mind throughout their stay.
What a Duke of Edinburgh Winter Expedition Looks Like
Practice days. First, students arrive at the Log Cabin, meet their instructors and set goals as a group. Next, they learn the winter basics: layering and staying dry, setting up a winter camp, and travelling on skis and snowshoes while hauling toboggans. The day ends with a hot dinner and a group debrief.
Qualifying days. After that, the group leads. Together, students plan the route, read the map and travel together, across Music Lake, along the Ridge Trail and past the Finger Islands. Along the way, instructors point out wolf and fox tracks. Then, at night, everyone sleeps in a heated wall tent.
The finish. Finally, on the last morning, the group snowshoes back to the Log Cabin for a debrief around the woodstove before heading home.
No winter experience is needed. However, students should be able to keep moving at a walking pace for up to 4 hours at a time.
What Students Take Home
- New skills: winter travel, camping, navigation and cooking in the snow
- Teamwork: every decision, from the route to the camp setup, is made together
- Leadership: each student takes a turn leading the group
- A sense of accomplishment: a winter journey completed and signed off
- Fun: and a group of new friends
Coming On Your Own
Most students on a scheduled Duke of Edinburgh winter expedition sign up on their own. Because expedition groups are small, 4 to 8 students, they quickly become a team.
Duke of Edinburgh Winter Expedition Dates 2026–27
| Level | Length | Dates | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | 5 days | Dec 19–23, 2026 (Sat–Wed) | $1,389 + HST |
| Bronze | 3 days | Mar 13–15, 2027 | $845 + HST |
| Silver | 5 days | Mar 13–17, 2027 | $1,389 + HST |
| Gold | 6 days | Mar 13–18, 2027 | $1,669 + HST |
The March trips run over March Break. Also, the $150 bring-a-friend offer applies only to the December expedition.
What’s Included
- Wilderness First Responder-certified instructors and a DOE assessor
- All meals
- Skis, snowshoes, toboggans, tents, sleeping pads and cooking gear
- Accommodation: Log Cabin, cottage, heated wall tent and basic cabin nights, depending on level
- Park permits
Students bring their own winter clothing and sleeping bag. However, you can rent sleeping bags, and transport from Toronto is available (extra cost), so you don’t need to drive.
For Award Leaders
We’re a recognized Duke of Edinburgh Award provider, and therefore every DOE winter trip includes practice and qualifying days with an assessor. Bringing a whole class instead? See our winter outdoor education trips for schools.
Prefer other seasons? In addition, we run DOE hiking trips in spring and canoe expeditions in summer.
See you soon…